Texas

This page lists the most applicable state crimes addressing stalking.
However, depending on the facts of the case, a stalker might also be charged
with other crimes, such as trespassing, intimidation of a witness, breaking and
entering, etc. Check your state code or consult with your local prosecutor about
other charges that might apply in a particular case.

Stalking

Tex. Penal Code § 42.072. Stalking. (2014)(a) A person commits an offense if the person,
on more than one occasion and pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct
that is directed specifically at another person, knowingly engages in conduct
that:

(1) constitutes an offense under Section 42.07, or the actor knows or reasonably believes the other person will
regard as threatening:

(A) bodily injury or death
for the other person;
(B)
bodily injury or death for a member of the other person's family or household
or for an individual with whom the other person has a dating relationship;
or
(C) that an offense
will be committed against the other person's property;

(2) causes the other
person, a member of the other person's family or household, or an individual
with whom the other person has a dating relationship to be placed in fear of
bodily injury or death or fear that an offense will be committed against the
other person's property; and
(3) would cause a
reasonable person to fear:

(A) bodily injury or
death for himself or herself;
(B) bodily injury or
death for a member of the person's family or household or for an individual
with whom the person has a dating relationship; or
(C) that an offense will be committed against the person's
property.

(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third
degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if the actor
has previously been convicted of an offense under this section or of an
offense under any of the following laws that contains elements that are
substantially similar to the elements of an offense under this section:

(1)
the laws of another state;
(2) the laws of a federally
recognized Indian tribe;
(3) the laws of a territory of
the United States; or
(4) federal law.

(c) For
purposes of this section, a trier of fact may find that different types of
conduct described by Subsection (a), if engaged in on more than one occasion,
constitute conduct that is engaged in pursuant to the same scheme or course of
conduct.

(d) In this section, "dating relationship," "family,"
"household," and "member of a household" have the meanings assigned by Chapter
71, Family Code.

(A) in a
prosecution for stalking, each party may offer testimony as to all relevant
facts and circumstances that would aid the trier of fact in determining
whether the actor's conduct would cause a reasonable person to experience a
fear described by section 42.072(A)(3)(A), (B), or (C), penal code, including
the facts and circumstances surrounding any existing or previous relationship
between the actor and the alleged victim, a member of the alleged victim's
family or household, or an individual with whom the alleged victim has a
dating relationship.

(B) This article does not permit
the presentation of character evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible
under the Texas rules of evidence or other applicable law.

SECTION 4. The
change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or
after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the
effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense
was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date
of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that
date.